Northern Line (Cape Town)

Northern Line
Overview
Type	Commuter rail
System	Metrorail Western Cape
Status	Operational
Locale	Cape Town, South Africa
Termini	Cape Town Wellington Muldersvlei Strand
Stations	48
Services	4
Operation
Owner	PRASA
Operator(s)	Metrorail
Rolling stock	Class 5M2
Technical
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge
Electrification	Overhead catenary
Route map Legend 0:00 Cape Town Eastern Boulevard (N2) 0:03 Woodstock 0:03 Esplanade 0:07 Salt River ( Southern Line ) 0:09 Ysterplaat Salt River Black River Parkway (M5) 0:09 Koeberg Road 0:12 Maitland ( CFL, CL via Pinelands ) 0:13 Kentemade 0:15 Woltemade 0:15 Century City 0:17 Mutual ( Central Line ) 0:18 Acacia Park 0:20 Thornton 0:21 Monte Vista 0:22 Goodwood 0:24 Vasco 0:25 De Grendel 0:27 Elsies River 0:27 Avondale 0:30 Parow 0:30 Oosterzee 0:32 Tygerberg 0:33 0:00 Bellville 0:04 Stikland ( Central Line, Lavistown branch ) Kuils River Freeway (R300) 0:06 Kuils River 0:08 Brackenfell 0:11 Blackheath 0:13 Eikenfontein 0:15 Melton Rose 0:16 Kraaifontein ( to Malmesbury ) 0:18 Eerste Rivier 0:24 Faure 0:25 Lynedoch 0:29 Vlottenburg 0:30 Firgrove 0:35 Stellenbosch 0:44 Du Toit 0:50 Koelenhof 0:56 0:27 Muldersvlei 0:33 Klapmuts 0:36 Somerset West 0:39 Van der Stel Settlers Way (N2) N1 0:42 Paarl 0:44 Strand Berg River 0:47 Huguenot 0:50 Dal Josafat 0:54 Mbekweni 0:59 Wellington

The Northern Line is a commuter rail service in and around Cape Town, South Africa operated by Metrorail Western Cape. Northern Line services operate from central Cape Town to Bellville, and then from Bellville along three different routes. The first route runs along the main Cape Town–De Aar railway line to Paarl and Wellington. The second route passes through Stellenbosch to terminate at Muldersvlei station on the main line, while the third also passes through Somerset West to terminate in Strand.^[1]

Route

Most Northern Line trains travel from Cape Town station along the old main line through Salt River, Maitland, Goodwood and Parow to Bellville station. Trains on the Wellington route continue from Bellville along the main line through Brackenfell and Kraaifontein, and then through the farmland outside the city to reach the towns of Paarl and Wellington.^[2]

Other trains branch south-east after Bellville, passing through Kuils River to Eerste River; From there, some turn north to pass through Stellenbosch and terminate at Muldersvlei station on the main line, while others continue south-east through Somerset West along the line towards Caledon. Shortly after Somerset West they branch from this line to terminate at Strand on the False Bay coast.^[2]

The Northern Line also includes a service along the relief main line from Cape Town past Century City and Monte Vista to Bellville.^[2]

Station listing

The Northern line serves the following stations:^[1]

Cape Town
Woodstock		Esplanade
Salt River		Ysterplaat
Koeberg Road		Kentemade
Maitland		Century City
Woltemade		Akasia Park
Mutual		Monte Vista
Thornton		De Grendel
Goodwood		Avondale
Vasco		Oosterzee
Elsies River
Parow
Tygerberg
Bellville
Kuils River			Stikland
Blackheath			Brackenfell
Melton Rose			Eikefontein
Eerste River			Kraaifontein
Faure	Lynedoch		Muldersvlei
Firgrove	Vlottenburg		Klapmuts
Somerset West	Stellenbosch		Paarl
Van der Stel	Du Toit		Huguenot
Strand	Koelenhof		Dal Josafat
	Muldersvlei		Mbekweni
			Wellington

Operation

The line is made up of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge track, electrified with 3,000 V DC overhead catenary; most of the routes are at least double track, except for the Strand and Stellenbosch lines beyond Eerste River. Services are operated mostly by electric multiple units of Class 5M2.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Timetables". Metrorail Western Cape. http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/_timetables/July%202010/Train_Timetables_JULY_2010.htm. Retrieved 12 July 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "2010 Local passenger rail routes of South Africa: Western Cape: Cape Town". Metrorail. http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/_routes/Cape_Town_Rail_Map_May_2010.pdf. Retrieved 13 July 2010.